3 players to blame for ugly sweep at Sixers’ hands in 2023 NBA playoffs

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The Brooklyn Nets were eliminated from the 2023 NBA playoffs after a 96-88 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 4 of their first-round series. He completed the sweep of the Sixers and ended the Nets’ roller coaster season. Here, we’ll take a look at the three players most to blame for the Brooklyn Nets’ nasty sweep at the hands of the Sixers in the 2023 NBA Playoffs.

Expectations for Game 4 of the Nets’ playoff series against the 76ers were low to non-existent. The Nets had been focused on stopping Sixers star player Joel Embiid in the first three games by doubling him and working around his strong defense. Everything else in the series was the result of the Nets’ strategy against Embiid.

Prior to Game 4, Embiid was ruled out with a knee injury. It gave the Nets a glimmer of hope. However, the Nets are still struggling to create and make shots. They also struggled to rebound defensively, as they have for most of the series. Despite the Embiids’ absence, the game was still tough for the Nets. It was mostly on the attacking side. It also marked the end of a painful and awkward season.

Now, let’s look at three players to blame for the Nets’ loss to the Sixers in the 2023 NBA Playoffs.

Nic Claxton led Brooklyn’s solid defense in the first half, with four blocks. This included a rejection from former teammate James Harden. He also had 15 points and six rebounds, making him the standout player on the court going into Saturday’s game. He dominated his game against Paul Reed, the Philadelphia backup center. Claxton also kept the Sixers from going small due to his height, athleticism and scoring ability. Claxton, who was nearly unplayable in last year’s playoffs, was now the best player on the court in a playoff game.

Harden, apparently worried about being destroyed by Claxton at the edge, is destroyed by Claxton at the edge. And Clax with a little look too: pic.twitter.com/9vBECsZ4Il

Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) April 22, 2023

But that was only Game 4. In the first two games of this series, we barely felt Claxtons’ presence. He had a total of 5 points, 16 rebounds and 3 blocks in Games 1 and 2. Those numbers just weren’t what Nets fans expected from one of the most improved player contenders this season. . Recall that during the 2022-23 season, Claxton averaged 12.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. He also shot 70.5% from the floor in 76 games. In this series, however, those numbers have dropped to just 10.5 points, 8.0 boards, and 1.5 blocks per game.

2. Royce O’Neale

Royce O’Neale was another guy we hoped would get involved. In some games last season, the former Baylor player was a rock for coach Jacque Vaughn. Overall, he averaged 8.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.1 triples per game during the regular season. Against the Sixers, however, ONeale struggled a lot. He had no game where he scored more than seven points. He also shot less than 19.0 percent from beyond the arc and only made 1.0 triples per contest. ONeale turns 30 in a few weeks and enters the final year of his current contract. We hope hell plays much better in the 2023-24 season. This is so he can make another deal when he becomes an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2024.

3. Kyrie Irving

How can you blame Kyrie Irving? He’s not even on this team anymore! Well, if it wasn’t for him, it would be a very different Nets team. The Nets could also have finished in the top four in the East with home advantage in the first round. They would most certainly have been the favorites to pass the first round as well.

Too bad that Irving, as he usually does, broke the whole mechanism in Brooklyn. After Irvings’ last game with the Nets ended, they had a 31-20 win-loss record. Since Irvings’ departure, however, the Nets have gone 14-21, including their four straight losses here against the Sixers.

Irving basically succeeded in (unintentionally?) screwing up another franchise (you could say he screwed up the Mavs too). It’s amazing how a player who is no longer part of a team can still significantly damage his fortune, huh?

This disappointment in Brooklyn is palpable. Look at this quote from General Manager Sean Marks.

They’re disappointed with how the season ended, just like all of us are, he said in a recent exit interview. And you have to reflect on yourself, look at yourself in the mirror. But, you know, at the same time, you’re positive with this group, because this group has shown a lot of resilience to fight through some things, to come together quickly in a hurry, on the fly. So as a collective, of the coaching staff and the players, I think they did a tremendous job. And again, as I said before, there is a path for this group to continue to grow individually and as a team together. So it’s an exciting path.

That’s how he tied a bow during the Nets season. Once again, his side were the only ones swept out of the first round for the second straight year. Thanks again Kyrie.

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